Deontay Wilder set to fight friend to earn shot at boxing title

Deontay Wilder, top left, and Malik Scott, wearing a mask made from a paper bag, will fight tonight in Puerto Rico. Wilder will defend his WBC Continental Americas Heavyweight Championship.

Associated Press

By D.C. ReevesSports Writer

Published: Friday, March 14, 2014 at 11:15 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, March 15, 2014 at 12:21 p.m.

BAYAMON, Puerto Rico | Two friends, Malik Scott and Tuscaloosa's Deontay Wilder, took turns stepping on the scale here at the Coliseo de Ruben Rodriguez on Friday. They faced the cameras, then stood toe to toe and faced each other.

But there was no intimidation factor, no jaw-clenching stare down.

Instead, Wilder laughed. Scott could barely hide a smile behind his zany prop, a brown paper bag over his head with the message “Get ya popcorn ready” emblazoned across the front. They embraced quickly and went their separate ways.

With that, a close friendship was put on hold for the huge prize that awaits the winner of their bout tonight: A mandatory shot at the World Boxing Council heavyweight championship.

“We definitely have love for each other, but there comes that point time in this sport where you have to cross each other's path,” Wilder said. “If it was my brother, my father, whoever was in (the ring), I have the same feeling towards them as I do with Malik. We both understand it's nothing personal, it's just business, and this is the business we signed up for.”

Before the fight was scheduled, the business had only brought Wilder and Scott together. They first met in Poland in 2011 when they were sparring partners for Tomasz Adamack as he prepared for a heavyweight title fight against then-champion Vitali Klitschko.

Their relationship grew. Scott came to spar with Wilder as he trained fight with Kelvin Price in 2012. When Wilder knocked Price out, Scott was one of the first to jump in the ring and celebrate.

The two know each other's children. Scott, 33, and Wilder, 28, hang out together outside of the ring. There is even a wild coincidence that bounds the two: Each fighter has the same birthday as the other fighter's mother.

“We still have that love and respect for each other,” Wilder said.

If one thing is certain, both fighters come into tonight feeling they know what to expect. Wilder knows that Scott is a polished, skilled, crafty boxer. Scott knows the type of power Wilder can put on display.

“I think that's my advantage, I do know his power,” said Scott, who weighed in at 238 pounds — paper bag included. “And I think it takes a dangerous puncher like Deontay Wilder to put me on my P's and Q's. So I'm going to cross my T's and all of my I's are going to be dotted.”

Tonight's fight is a WBC eliminator, meaning the winner will get an automatic chance to fight for the world championship. The former WBC champ, Vitali Klitschko, vacated his belt in January and Bermane Stiverne and Chris Arreola, the WBC's top two heavyweight contenders, will fight for the title in May. Wilder or Scott will likely be the title winner's first title defense.

To get that shot, Wilder will have to go through the man behind the bag who many consider his toughest test to date. When asked about Wilder knocking out all 30 of his opponents, Scott rebutted “well, 30 guys, but none of them are Malik Scott.”

“It's the fight of the year, we want the fans to get ready,” said Scott, who is rated the No. 23 heavyweight in the world by the WBC. “I've been telling people the last five weeks to get your popcorn ready, and I'm looking forward to being victorious on Saturday night.”

Friendship or not, Wilder's mission is clear.

“We're not going to hold anything back,” he said. “I know I'm not going to hold nothing back. I'm going to whoop him just like I didn't know him. That's how we're going about it.”

<p>BAYAMON, Puerto Rico | Two friends, Malik Scott and Tuscaloosa's Deontay Wilder, took turns stepping on the scale here at the Coliseo de Ruben Rodriguez on Friday. They faced the cameras, then stood toe to toe and faced each other. </p><p>But there was no intimidation factor, no jaw-clenching stare down. </p><p>Instead, Wilder laughed. Scott could barely hide a smile behind his zany prop, a brown paper bag over his head with the message “Get ya popcorn ready” emblazoned across the front. They embraced quickly and went their separate ways.</p><p>With that, a close friendship was put on hold for the huge prize that awaits the winner of their bout tonight: A mandatory shot at the World Boxing Council heavyweight championship.</p><p>“We definitely have love for each other, but there comes that point time in this sport where you have to cross each other's path,” Wilder said. “If it was my brother, my father, whoever was in (the ring), I have the same feeling towards them as I do with Malik. We both understand it's nothing personal, it's just business, and this is the business we signed up for.”</p><p>Before the fight was scheduled, the business had only brought Wilder and Scott together. They first met in Poland in 2011 when they were sparring partners for Tomasz Adamack as he prepared for a heavyweight title fight against then-champion Vitali Klitschko. </p><p>Their relationship grew. Scott came to spar with Wilder as he trained fight with Kelvin Price in 2012. When Wilder knocked Price out, Scott was one of the first to jump in the ring and celebrate. </p><p>The two know each other's children. Scott, 33, and Wilder, 28, hang out together outside of the ring. There is even a wild coincidence that bounds the two: Each fighter has the same birthday as the other fighter's mother.</p><p> “We still have that love and respect for each other,” Wilder said. </p><p>If one thing is certain, both fighters come into tonight feeling they know what to expect. Wilder knows that Scott is a polished, skilled, crafty boxer. Scott knows the type of power Wilder can put on display.</p><p>“I think that's my advantage, I do know his power,” said Scott, who weighed in at 238 pounds — paper bag included. “And I think it takes a dangerous puncher like Deontay Wilder to put me on my P's and Q's. So I'm going to cross my T's and all of my I's are going to be dotted.”</p><p>Tonight's fight is a WBC eliminator, meaning the winner will get an automatic chance to fight for the world championship. The former WBC champ, Vitali Klitschko, vacated his belt in January and Bermane Stiverne and Chris Arreola, the WBC's top two heavyweight contenders, will fight for the title in May. Wilder or Scott will likely be the title winner's first title defense.</p><p>To get that shot, Wilder will have to go through the man behind the bag who many consider his toughest test to date. When asked about Wilder knocking out all 30 of his opponents, Scott rebutted “well, 30 guys, but none of them are Malik Scott.”</p><p>“It's the fight of the year, we want the fans to get ready,” said Scott, who is rated the No. 23 heavyweight in the world by the WBC. “I've been telling people the last five weeks to get your popcorn ready, and I'm looking forward to being victorious on Saturday night.”</p><p>Friendship or not, Wilder's mission is clear.</p><p> “We're not going to hold anything back,” he said. “I know I'm not going to hold nothing back. I'm going to whoop him just like I didn't know him. That's how we're going about it.”</p><p>Reach D.C. Reeves at dc.reeves@tuscaloosanews.com or 205-722-0196.</p>